Tokyo's holiday change fuels China row

Page Tools

Japan's Parliament yesterday renamed a national holiday to
honour Second World War emperor Hirohito. But it is likely to spark
opposition from China and others who view the late monarch as a
symbol of militarism.

Ties with China have recently been strained over a number of
issues, including Government approval of a history textbook that
critics say whitewashes Japan's aggression in Asia before and
during the war.

The April 29 holiday, which marked Hirohito's birthday, was
called "Green Day", a reference to his interest in biology. It will
be renamed "Showa Day". Showa, or enlightened peace, is the
Japanese name for Hirohito's 1925-1989 reign. Two previous attempts
to rename the holiday failed.

The legislation says the new holiday is a day during which
"thoughts should be given to the future of the nation, while
reflecting on the period of Showa during which turbulent days were
experienced and reconstruction (from the wreckage of war)
achieved".

Japan's imperial army conquered much of Asia in Hirohito's name,
committing widespread atrocities that many Japanese - and the
country's East Asian neighbours - still find hard to forgive.

Discussion about the change slowed after it was approved by the
lower house of Parliament early last month, apparently because of
concern that the renaming would worsen already tense relations,
Kyodo news agency said.

Anti-Japanese feelings in China erupted in violent
demonstrations last month as relations worsened to their lowest in
decades. A meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro
Koizumi and Chinese President Hu Jintao towards the end of the
month helped ease tensions.